Geranium plant named &#39;Maestro Lavender Blue&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Maestro Lavender Blue’ is a new variety of geranium having a distinct lavender blue color and excellent outdoor performance.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Pelargonium×hortorum

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Maestro Lavender Blue’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium×hortorum known by the varietal name ‘Maestro Lavender Blue’. The new variety was discovered in Lompoc, Calif. The new variety is a result of cross breeding ‘Designer Lilac Chiffon’ (female parent) (unpatented) and Seedling Purple 6532 (male parent) (unpatented). The purpose of the breeding program was to develop a more compact series of green leaved zonal geraniums. The new variety is similar in flower color to its female parent, but is a more dwarf plant type. The new variety is similar in plant type to its male parent, but exhibits a different, less purple, more lavender flower color than its male parent. ‘Maestro Lavender Blue’ has a distinct lavender blue color and is a medium size plant with excellent outdoor performance when compared to other varieties known to the breeder. Further, the new variety is similar in plant height and type to ‘Tango Lavender’, but has a deeper flower color and leaves that are lighter green in color. The new variety was first asexually reproduced by cuttings in Connellsville, Pa.

The new variety was grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville, Pa. in a 4-inch pot under full light, at 60° F. in the evenings and 68° F. in the daytime in a soilless media with constant fertilizer at 200-250 ppm nitrogen and potassium. The new variety exhibits developed roots at 21 days at an average temperature of 21° C. and has a response time of six to seven weeks from a rooted cutting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics were collected by asexual reproductions carried out in Connellsville, Pa. The color readings were taken indoors under 200-220 foot candles of cool white fluorescent light. The new variety was six weeks from a rooted cutting when described. Color references are primarily to the 1966 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

-   Plant:     -   -   Market class.—Zonal.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7-10 days at about 23°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 21 days at about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted             cutting.—About 6-7 weeks.         -   Rooting habit.—Good.         -   Form (e.g., spreading, mounded, symmetrical).—Round-mounded.         -   Height from media surface to top of foliage.—14-16 cm.         -   Height from media surface to top of flowers.—20-26 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—23-27 cm.         -   Vigor.—Medium.         -   Strength.—No artificial support needed.         -   Branching habit.—Free branching.         -   Stem.—Main stem length: 12.5-14.5 cm. Diameter: 0.7-0.9 cm.             Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Texture: Smooth. Pubescence:             Average. Internode length: 2.0-3.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: Primary: 2.0-6.0 cm. Secondary:             None at 6 weeks. Diameter: Primary: 0.5-0.6 cm. Secondary:             None at 6 weeks. Internode length: 1.5-2.0 cm. Texture:             Smooth. Pubescence: Average (moderate). Color: Yellow-Green             Group 144A.         -   Foliage.—Stipules: Size: 1.0×1.0 to 1.0×1.2 cm. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 144A. Zone: None present. Size of leaf:             Length: 6.3-10.3 cm. Width: 7.1-11.2 cm. Shape of leaf             (generally): Reniform with a stalked base. Shape of apex:             Rounded in accordance with a reinform leaf shape. Shape of             base: Cordate. Texture: Velvety. Aspect: Leaves have a very             slight slope increasing from the point of connection toward             the margin. Margin type: Crenate. Pubescence: Upper surface:             Moderate. Lower surface: Moderate. Color: Young leaves:             Upper surface: Green Group 137B. Lower surface: Green Group             138B. Mature leaves: Upper surface: Green Group 137A. Lower             surface: Green Group 137C. Petiole: Length: 5.3-14.3 cm.             Diameter: 0.25-0.3 cm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A.             Veins: Venation type: Palmate. Color: Upper surface: Green             Group 137C. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 145B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Bud.—Stage of development when bud characteristics             determined: Bud shows color at side but sepals are not             parting at the tips. Shape of cluster: Elliptical. Diameter             of cluster: 3.7-4.2 cm. Number of buds per cluster: 23-26.             Shape of individual bud: Ellipse. Length of individual bud:             0.8-0.9 cm. Width of individual bud: 0.5-0.7 cm.         -   Natural flowering season at specified location(s).—Year             round horticultural greenhouse crop.         -   Blooming habit.—Continuous and free-flowering.         -   Umbel diameter of a mature flower.—11.3-12.8 cm.         -   Umbel depth.—6.2-9.4 cm.         -   Borne.—Umbel, flowers on pedicel, pedicel on peduncle.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—1-2.         -   Lastingness of an individual flower.—14-21 days from 1^(st)             floret.         -   Florets.—Form: Flat (as the plant matures, the florets             gradually become more open/flat) and slightly cupped. Number             per umbel: 21-32. Diameter: 4.2-5.1 cm. Depth: 2.2-2.6 cm.         -   Petals.—Color: The top two or three petals of the floret             have a white blotch in comparison to the bottom petals.             Upper surface: The top two or three petals have an outer             line on the margin of Red-Purple Group 71D. The petals are             Red-Purple Group 72C. The bottom half of the petals have a             blotch of Red-Purple Group 65C and White Group 155D. The             venation below the blotch is Red-Purple Group 71B. Above the             blotch the venation fades to a Red-Purple Group 71D. The             point of connection fades to White Group 155D. The bottom             petals are Red-Purple Group 71D. The point of connection             immediately fades to White Group 155D. The venation present             is Red-Purple Group 71C. Lower surface: The top two or three             petals have a Red-Purple Group 71D margin and fade to             Red-Purple Group 73C and finally to White Group 155D at the             center of the petal. The venation present is Red-Purple             Group 67A. The point of connection is White Group 155D. The             bottom petals are Red-Purple Group 73A on the margin and             fade to White Group 155D. The petals have a light venation             of Red-Purple Group 67B. Shape: Inverted teardrop. Length:             2.4-2.7 cm. Width: 1.9-2.6 cm. Apex shape: Smooth and             rounded. Base shape: Tapered to a point. Margin: Entire,             smooth. Number per floret: 5-8. Texture: Smooth. Tonality             from a distance: Bright lavender pink flowers atop of             mounding medium-dark green foliage.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity: 0-4 per floret. Shape: Splits in a             two-pronged unit or are tubular. Color (Upper and lower             surface): Petaloids have an inner and outer surface of             Red-Purple Group 67B and fade to White Group 155D near the             point where they connect to the pedicel. The undersides are             Red-Purple Group 73A and fade to White Group 155D             approaching the center of the petaloid. Length: 1.1-1.5 cm.             Width: 0.2-0.9 cm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 3.1-3.6 cm. Diameter: 0.15-0.2 cm. Color:             Greyed-Purple Group 185A where the pedicel connects to the             floret and fades to Yellow-Green Group 144A as the pedicel             approaches the point where it connects to the peduncle.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 16.8-25.5 cm. Diameter: 0.3-0.5 cm.             Texture: Slightly rough leather texture with a slight to             moderate amount of pubescence. Color: Yellow-Green Group             144A.         -   Fragrance.—Typical.         -   Disease resistance.—None observed to date.         -   Temperature tolerance.—None observed to date.         -   Drought tolerance.—None observed to date. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): 8. Filament: Length:             0.8-0.9 cm. Color: White Group 155D with the tip being             Red-Purple Group 66A. Anthers: Shape: Oval-like with a             slight curve. Length: 0.15-0.2 cm. Color: Greyed-Purple             Group 185B. Pollen: Color: Greyed-Orange Group 171B. Amount             (generally): Plentiful.         -   Pistils.—Number: One. Length: 1.0 cm. Style: Length: 0.3 cm.             Color: Red Group 46A. Stigma: Shape: Style splits and             radiates into 5 or 6 parts. Color: Red Group 46A. Size: 0.15             cm high. Ovaries: Position: Superior. Pubescence: Present.             Length: 0.55 mm. Width: 0.17-0.2 cm. Color: Yellow-Green             Group 144A. 

1. A new and distinct variety of geranium named ‘Maestro Lavender Blue’ as herein described and illustrated. 